On Thursday, NC State announced that alumnus Daniel Graber would be returning to the program as an assistant coach after spending seven years coaching at other Division I programs.
Graber swam for the Wolfpack from 2015-2019, making the NCAA team in his final two seasons and qualifying to swim the 100 breaststroke individually in 2019, where he finished 40th overall.
After his graduation, he began his coaching career as an assistant at Virginia Tech, working with the middle distance and sprint groups.
In June of 2021, he moved to Dartmouth, where he was responsible for leading dryland workouts and helped guide athletes to six school records during his two seasons with the program.
He moved to Duke in 2023, spending three seasons with the Blue Devils, who set 18 school records over his three seasons with the program.
NC State Head Coach Braden Holloway said, “Bringing Daniel Graber back to the Wolfpack is a big win for our program. He’s the kind of person you want around your team—smart, driven, and fully invested in what it means to wear NC State. His experience, work ethic, and drive will make a difference from day one.
“It’s always special when one of our own comes home,” Holloway continued. “Daniel was a tremendous student-athlete here, and he embodies the pride that defines the Wolfpack. He connects naturally with people—we’re excited to have him back on deck with us.”
Graber said, “Coming back to be a part of the Wolfpack again is incredibly meaningful to me. This program helped shape who I am, both in and out of the pool, and I’m honored to return to a place that means so much to me.”
The NC State men are searching for a strong breaststroker right now, but they have a pair of international freshmen coming in, Turkey’s Nusrat Allahverdi and Poland’s Jan Gadja, who will be looking to fill that gap.
On the women’s side, they have women’s 100 breaststroke NCAA Champion Eneli Jefimova, who still has three more years with the program.
who left their staff to create this opening?